The recent feud between Rick Ross and 50 Cent hurtled toward absurdity this week, when Ross apologised to gay people for using homophobic language – before branding 50 Cent as "gay".

The two rappers have been feuding for months, attacking each other in songs, interviews, and – since this is 2009 – YouTube videos. As with many such beefs, the catalyst isn't clear. 50 Cent may or may not have "made an expression on his face" when he saw Rick Ross backstage at the BET awards, but something spurred Ross to release a diss track, Mafia Music, this January.

Fiddy was initially nonplussed. "I ain't never had a confrontation with these niggas," he told Vibe. "I don't know these niggas. I know your name [Rick Ross], I've seen your videos [but] other than that we ain't got no business together. We ain't got no reason to even be talking to each other. Niggas think that it's an opportunity to create energy or an excitement for the actual release of their record."

But Rick Ross isn't the only person to have a record coming out. 50 Cent will also release an album later this year, and he too has recognised the "opportunity to create energy or an excitement".

Not only has 50 Cent mocked Rick Ross's reputed past as a prison guard – he has made it personal. Adopting a persona called Pimpin' Curly, 50 Cent shot suggestive videos with several of his adversary's alleged ex-girlfriends, including a woman identified as the mother of one of Ross's children.

Unsurprisingly, their bickering has not troubled the Guardian letters page. Ross has consistently used homophobic slurs to attack 50 Cent. "[50 Cent's] not straight, he's a fag, he's gay," Ross told radio station KDAY-FM.

But in a new video, Ross has apologised. Sort of. OK, not really. "I heard I offended the homosexual community," he said. "I sincerely apologise to the people I've offended. And just to let the gay community know how sincere I am with my apologies, I'm offering and willing to do a record with an openly gay artist such as Curly, Curtis Jackson, 50 Cent, even Elton John. Both two great gay artists. So now all the gays, we good. Peace."